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Elementary, middle and high school students from five counties showed off their creativity and ingenuity during the sixth annual ACTC/FIVCO Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 2.

The fair, coordinated by Ashland Community and Technical College, showcased science projects throughout six different categories of science. Those categories were Biomedical and Behavioral Health Sciences; Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; Engineering and Mathematics; Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy; and, new to this year’s fair, Robotics and Computer Science.

Participants were judged on five criteria — originality and creativity; scientific method or technological design; thoroughness; skill and clarity; and approval forms and data notebook.

“I am amazed at the students who came and exhibited their fascinating and innovative projects at the fair,” said Mia Brown, fair director. “This part of the region has some of the most talented and brilliant students. I believe this year our students reached a little deeper into areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We saw interests in our newest category, Robotics and Computer Sciences, as well as a continued inquisitiveness in categories like Biomedical and Behavioral Health Sciences and Engineering and Mathematics.”

First, second and third place awards were given in each category during a ceremony on Feb. 9. First and second award winners in the middle school categories and all winners in the high school categories, as well as the elementary grand prize and grand prize runner-up are eligible to enter the Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 24 at Northern Kentucky University.

“Our fair is growing by leaps and bounds,” Brown said. “This year, 70 high school students participated in the fair. This is record number and we expect this population to continue to grow, mostly because students have found an avenue to apply what it is they are learning within their Career and Technical Educational (CTE) pathways. We see great teamwork from high school students as they tackle scientific problems together.

“As fair director, it is my mission to empower our students to be better today than they were yesterday,” Brown said. “I am a product of the science fair and I know the benefits it brings. I am grateful for the many mentors in my life who helped me along this journey and it is my purpose and desire to give unto others as it was given unto me. It is truly an honor to be a part of our student’s life journey. My hope is that as a community we continue to believe, support and encourage our students to be the best they can be and more.”

First, second and third place high school winners will advance to the regional SEF.

Talent Night is Feb. 23

ACTC will host a Talent Night at 7 p.m. Friday Feb. 23 at the J.B. Sowards Theatre on ACTC’s College Drive Campus. This showcase gives amateur talent in the Tri-State a chance to share their talents in music, song, dance, poetry, comedy and drama.